Will he or won't he

[JohnAKeith]

Tonight (Tuesday, January 29, 2013), Mayor Thomas M. Menino will give his 20th "State of the City" address to his constituents, invited guests, and the media.

There's been no hints that the speech will include anything but the norm - how the South Boston Waterfront is a work in progress, how the new school assignment plan is reaching an important milestone, how, although major and violent crime is down, that we need more gun control on both a local and national level.

Of course, the only thing on anyone's mind will be ... can the Mayor successfully walk the carpet from the front door of Faneuil Hall to his dais without tripping and falling. Being able to do that will no doubt be met with a thunderous round of applause and a roaring crowd, on its feet.

It's my hope against hope that the Mayor's speech will be short and that his final six words will be, "Thank you. Good night. And, good-bye." Followed maybe by him shouting, "Go Pats!") And with that, he will retire, either immediately or come the end of the year.

What do you think? Will the mayor run for office for a sixth term? Or, will he announce he's going to retire? Will he retire immediately? Will he hold off announcing his intentions as long as possible just to screw the other politicians who are looking to get in?

 

[datadyne007]

Not to derail this thread completely, but I'm quite proud of the fact that Menino is one of the founders of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Crime may be "down," but that doesn't mean it can't go any lower.

 

[Commuting Boston Student]

I'm disappointed in the lack of a "No - but nobody's going to run against him and so he'll end up winning by default" option.

I mean, seriously, do we even have anyone in politics who could conceivably beat Menino? I struggle to think of anyone. I'm being honest.

 

[datadyne007]

Elizabeth Warren, but she's moved way ahead to the big leagues.

 

[underground]

I mean, seriously, do we even have anyone in politics who could conceivably beat Menino? I struggle to think of anyone. I'm being honest.

Never mind a person in politics, can you think of anyone period who could beat him? In a couple of years, maybe someone like Ayanna Pressely could do it. But I can't think of a single person in the entire city who could knock Menino off right now if he ran again. An open race could be interesting though.

 

[statler]

Any thoughts on who would run in an open race and who the favorites would be?

 

[underground]

Half the city council would probably run. The city-wides have decent name recognition and networking outside their home territory. You hear that Consalvo is the mayor's handpicked successor, but he's a bit of a non-entity outside Hyde Park. Then again, so was Menino when he ran. It's always seemed like Mike Ross wants to do bigger things. People seem to respond well to him. I don't know if you can pick a favorite from that pack though.

Outside City Hall, seems like a question mark. It doesn't look like anyone around the State House is interested. Marty Walz and Byron Rushing seem content to do their damage where they are. People like Michael Rush, Aaron Michealwitz and Sonia Chang-Diaz seem like a few years off doing anything larger, but potential candidates some day. No one in the private sector's making much noise. Probably a good move; don't want to piss off the mayor if you're not 1000% sure he's moving on, Greg Selkoe excluded.

 

[choo]

I was partial to Sam Yoon (?) last time around. He seemed like a whole new perspective and more in line with the current generations thinking of what a 21st century Boston can/should be while having an appropriate respect for the past. But I think he has left Boston, no?

The question becomes, if he does run, can anyone beat him? I think many people would reconsider their vote for a good candidate and understanding Menino may be in too poor of health at this point.

 

[TheRifleman]

The doctors could tell the Mayor he has 3 months to live. This guy would rather die in office than let go of his power. Hes making another run. This Mayor is the true definition for Term Limits.

You need change in society for good & bad. This guy has been Mayor for way too long.

 

[kmp1284]

The pool of candidates is pretty shallow in this area but a private sector Bloomberg type could do some amazing things, Henri Termeer comes to mind. I think he's sadly done with politics but Bill Weld would be another fine choice, having cleaned up after the Dukakis experiment.

 

[Hutchison]

Heard from someone who works in his office that another run is likely (unless his wife wins out)

 

[datadyne007]

ROFL he can't get the audience to stop giving him a standing ovation. They won't stop!

...And then when he does, someone says "4 more years!" and it starts up again. They clapped for nearly 5 minutes.

 

[Commuting Boston Student]

Elizabeth Warren, but she's moved way ahead to the big leagues.

I don't even think she could win in a straight election between the two of them.

Not that it would come to that, because I imagine she'd be "backed off" of the idea pretty heavily by her supporters, most of whom were (would be?) Menino supporters first and Warren supporters second.

 

[Ron Newman]

Even if he runs and is re-elected, I'd bet against "four more years".

 

[bigeman312]

Even if he runs and is re-elected, I'd bet against "four more years".

^Why?

 

[Ron Newman]

Because he might find he needs to leave office for health reasons before the next term ends.

 

[bigeman312]

Because he might find he needs to leave office for health reasons before the next term ends.

Ah. Of course. Overthought that one.

 

[JohnAKeith]

I didn't have a chance to watch the Mayor's speech tonight but apparently he was in good form and in good health.

I am not pleased about this.

I wrote the above poll last night while high on Ambien. What I should have asked was "Should he run" not "Will he run".

The answer to should he is obviously no. I mean ... really.

 

[Downburst]

If anyone runs (outside Menino, who I reluctantly expect to) it won't be Marty Walz:

http://b.globe.com/XR2JYc

State Rep. Marty Walz to leave seat, join Planned Parenthood

By Derek J. Anderson Frank Phillips*|* GLOBE CORRESPONDENT AND GLOBE STAFF * * JANUARY 30, 2013
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After four terms serving as the representative for the state’s eighth district, Martha “Marty” Walz will announce Wednesday that she is resigning her legislative seat to become the new chief executive officer for the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, according to a person with knowledge of the League’s decision. Walz, 51, was chosen by Planned Parenthood over Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, who recently served as Health and Human Services secretary for Governor Deval Patrick’s administration, said the source, who requested anonymity.

 

[kmp1284]

Good fucking riddance. In the Army they have birth control glasses, poor old Marty has a birth control nose.